Couch to who's next? Taking a QB is tough on GMs

Tuesday

May 6, 2014 at 7:29 PM

Here's a last-minute homework assignment for Browns general manager Ray Farmer: A quick, year-by-year look at NFL drafts since 1999, and what they say about how he must proceed in drafting a quarterback this week.

Steve Doerschuk CantonRep.com sports writer @sdoerschukREP

The Browns might be wise to base drafting a quarterback on the following principle:

He who hesitates is 4-12.

One school of thought on not burning the No. 4 overall pick on a QB is that none in this year’s crop has a good enough scouting grade — an acceptable QB might be available with the next pick, at No. 26.

Quite often, however, a draft contains only one good quarterback, if that.

The million-dollar move a man in Ray Farmer’s shoes must contemplate is to identify “the one” and waste no time drafting him.

A quick look at each draft since the Browns returned as an expansion team drives home the point.

1999

Some GMs saw Tim Couch (No. 1), Donovan McNabb (No. 2), Akili Smith (No. 3), Daunte Culpepper (No. 11) and Cade McNown (No. 12) as franchise changers. Only McNabb (98-62-1 record as a starter) actually was. The other four were a combined 69-112. Couch, the new Browns’ first great hope, hit the road with a 22-37 record.

2000

Here’s proof that pure luck allowed New England to find this draft’s one QB star. Tom Brady wasn’t even the Patriots’ top choice in the sixth round. Bill Belichick went with safety Antwan Harris at No. 187 overall. Later in Round 6, at No. 199, Belichick stumbled upon Brady.

Sam Bradford (No. 1 overall; 18-30-1) has lost support in St. Louis. Tim Tebow (No. 25 overall; 8-6) can’t find a team. Jimmy Clausen (No. 48 overall; 1-9) is out of the league. Colt McCoy (No. 85 overall; 6-15) hasn’t started a game since 2011 and is on his third team (Redskins) in three years.

2011

Since this was a recent draft, it may weigh more heavily on the minds of GMs this week. After no-brainer Cam Newton (No. 1 overall; 25-23), scouting grades turned into exploding cigars.

E.J. Manuel (No. 16 overall; 4-6) and Geno Smith (No. 39 overall; 8-8) were starters for the Bills and Jets, Mike Pettine’s last two teams. Mike Glennon (No. 73 overall; 4-9) was the third QB picked and emerged as the Buccaneers’ starter.

Bottom line

Drafting a starting quarterback is a tricky business. Failing to identify the right guy and finding a way to draft him can be dangerous business. But then, so can forcing a pick in one of those drafts where the quarterbacks were OK in college but not up to the NFL.